“I want to give back. This experience transformed my life.”
Photo: United World College Costa Rica
Nine Grieg Foundation Scholars from 6 different Latin American countries have graduated from the United World College in Costa Rica. They are eager to become ambassadors of leadership, resiliency, and strong potential as agents of change. Education changes lives. Read the inspiring reflections from our wonderful scholars as they embark on the next chapter in their lives.
The UWC Costa Rica education is designed to challenge all students to become the best version of themselves. Living alongside peers from 72 nations, collaborating in positive social transformation projects, now the two-year programme is over. They are about to continue their academic careers, their lives and to contribute to their communities. Six of the nine Grieg Foundation Scholars will continue their studies in prestigious colleges and universities in the United States with merit scholarships. We are extremely proud of them.
Ready for the world
Eyleen Teresa Menchú Tuy from Guatemala will start studying politics at Whitman College.
Eyleen identifies as Mayan and has roots in the Kaqchikel and K’iche’ communities. She has strong leadership skills, social awareness, initiative, compassion, and intellectual curiosity. Eyleen has a deep social commitment to change the world through education. She is involved with “Niñas que Lideran” (“Girls Who Lead”), an organization for girls’ and women’s rights, and teaches other girls in schools about their rights, fight street harassment, and promote inclusion programs and empowerment of underage mothers. For the next four years she will study politics at Whitman College.
“While I study, I want to look for opportunities to be involved in advocacy and social aid projects. I want to work in an International Organization creating and executing social aid projects. I also want to get involved in politics at the international and national level in Guatemala.”
- Eyleen Teresa Menchú Tuy
Marco Valsania from Bolivia will start studying economics at Claremont Mckenna College
Marco speaks English, German, and Guarani. Marco loves to spend time in nature. He is a terrific classical guitar player and possesses noticeable leadership skills. At UWC Costa Rica, with his fellow Grieg Foundation Scholar, Joaquin Clemente, they started a self-sustainable nonprofit organization to provide homeless people in Bolivia with protective gear and have access to clean masks to help protect them from COVID-19. So far, the organization has sold over 3,000 masks and donated over 1,000 masks!
“My education has given meaning to my life. I appreciate the trust you have given me, and I will do something positive with it. I will make sure to multiply it.”
-Marco Valsani
Iris Raquel Narváez Salgado from Nicaragua
Iris has been a dedicated leader in her community and a top student in her region of the country. She comes from a very remote part of Nicaragua with few opportunities to grow. Iris was chosen by Youth Ambassadors and three other students from the whole country to represent Nicaragua in a youth summit on leadership. She has two sisters, and her family are farmers. Iris volunteers at “The Telethon” for the ACCESS Program, which develops projects to help the community.
“Learning English and studying at UWC Costa Rica have enabled me to change the way I look at things. It has allowed me to go beyond my limits, learn from others, and learn about myself. I have developed new skills and become a more extroverted and self-confident person.”
-Iris Raquel Narváez Salgado
Jhoel Arnold Vilca Salca is from an SOS Village in Peru.
Jhoel plays in a band, and is an active basketball and soccer player. Spirituality is important to him. He would like to study electrical engineering s already accepted into a competitive engineering programme in a university in Peru. But first he wants to take a gap year to broaden his understanding of the larger world and his space in it. Jhoel dreams of creating an educational experience like UWC Costa Rica in his city. He realizes that education is the cornerstone of everything.
“UWC Costa Rica was the door of opportunity that I never thought would ever open for me.”
-Jhoel Arnold Vilca Salca
Bryan Zamora from Costa Rica will start studying environmental studies at Concordia College.
Bryan comes from Perez Zeledon, a small and rural town in the south of Costa Rica. Bryan became a vivid advocate for environmental practices at UWC Costa Rica, working in the greenhouse and using his knowledge from the classroom to support community projects.
“My convictions have remained the same. I gained new perspectives, and I am still shaping my identity. I will be the first in my family to study abroad and to study at a Univesity. This means I will have the opportunity to continue my education to better the damages to the environment and support my family. I want to give back, so others have a chance to transform their lives as this experience did for me.”
-Bryan Zamora
Fátima Lucía Reyes Paniagua is from Guatemala and has been accepted to Carleton College.
Fatima has excelled in academics and in activities that require leadership, organization and planning. She has been a math tutor, a member of the math Olympiad School Team since 2014, participated in Central America and the Caribbean Math Olympiad.
Luis Eduardo Castro Tobar from El Salvador has been accepted to the University of Oklahoma.
Luis is a very active young man, enjoying football, swimming, ping pong, chess, and playing the ukulele. He took part in many social projects, mainly where he could help people in need.
“I feel lucky to have been part of the marvelous community called UWC Costa Rica during my last two years. Experiences span from living with an indigenous community n the middle of Nicoya to receiving offers from renowned US universities. The UWC Costa Rica experience has let me improve my skills and find new ones. We are constantly pushed to be role models for our communities, which means solidifying our leadership’s abilities. Being a leader is a daily life practice.”
-Luis Eduardo Castro Tobar
Alex Alvarado is from Costa Rica and has been accepted to the Furman University to study Physics.
“The last two years have been overwhelmingly productive for me, not only because of the immense personal growth that I have experienced but also due to the number of connections I have made all around the world. I have been accepted with full financial aid to Furman University in North Carolina, where I will Major in Physics.”
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity that has been given to me with this scholarship, and I believe that quality education should be affordable to everyone. Still, until that is a reality, your support to other students and me are making a difference. I am extremely passionate about Science, and I believe that technology and knowledge will lead us to a better future. I want to inspire others as my tutors have inspired me.”
-Alex Alvarado
We wish them all the best and look forward to follow them on their life journey.
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